Review: The Right Kind of Love (Blue Heart Series #1) by Kennedy Kelly
Contemporary Romance
Released: June 2015
Self Published

Reviewed by Sheena

Damaged, but not broken, Sydney Summers picks up her life and moves halfway across the country. After a tragic event that has rocked her to the core, she is determined not to let it taint her future. Her entire world is turned on its axis when her new roommate isn’t the person she thought they would be. Making the best of the situation, like she always does, she trudges forward and learns that, although life may not seem perfect all the time, it can end up being pretty damn good.

Damien Blue, a tattoo artist by day and a musician by night, is a man-whore. With a revolving bedroom door, he knows no limits when it comes to women. Then he meets his game-changer. Everything he knew before is completely and utterly turned upside-down when he can’t keep the one woman he thinks is too good for him from his mind or his heart.

When fate rears its ugly head again, will they be able to come together as one, surviving their hot and cold relationship? Will Sydney be able to let go of her past and fight for their future? Together, will they be able to find The Right Kind of Love?

This little gem was quietly released in 2014, however, thank goodness for the re-release in June 2015 as it recently caught my eye and damn if I was not a goner.  I was surprised that I fell into step with this novel.  It has a trope that I don’t particularly love “hero falls in love with impregnated heroine rape survivor and claims baby as his.”   I am all for a knocked up heroines – hey, it tickles my fancy- but when you add to the mix a non-consensual sexual assault and the new, stand up guy laying claim to the kid- well, things get a little weird for me.  That aside, Kennedy Kelly adeptly navigates these troubled waters and the outcome is a very well balanced, light, despite the darkness super romantic book that made me swoon several times over.  Thanks to a twist of fate, Sydney and Damien are thrown together and couldn’t be more polar opposite.  She is running from unimaginable pain and abuse, picking the pieces of her life up one shard at a time, while he is living la vida loca, a different woman to warm his bed each night.  Running his own tattoo shop and jamming with his band, he is blindsided by Sydney and his fascination bonds him to her in ways that he is helpless to fight.

Their wary barbs and guarded banter soon grows into a budding friendship.  What I appreciate about Sydney and Damien is that they have a solid foundation.  There is insta-lust and mutual attraction, but they are well and truly friends that evolve into more.  The author does a swell job of making me invest into these two characters and when they hurt, I railed, took sides and then yearned for them to patch their frayed edges.  The Right Kind of Love, is a verrrry steamy and romantic contemporary romance with just a taste of obligatory danger.  Right smack in the middle of their falling for one another, Sydney discovers her nightmare ex left her pregnant and scarred from his brazen attack.  Damien is already all in and declares he is all for raising “their” baby.  Fuzzy as my brain was, with all the yummy romance flying about, I put the brakes on and sought some clarity.  Smitten, sure, but dude, you are ready to claim the baby as yours? That is a huge step!  Tuck your raging boner away and THINK with the head that houses your brains!  His unwavering acceptance felt like a misstep and I found it authentic that Damien’s loved ones and supporting characters were all like WTF!?  He soundly shut them down, but I found it vital that someone voice my mental shouting.  If everyone would have been non-plussed by Damien’s stepping up to father Sydney’s baby, it would have felt like a missed opportunity and bugged me the remainder of the novel.

Once I semi got over my wish washy feelings regarding rape-baby gate, I was able to settle back in and enjoy the story.  Damien- overzealous papa to be- was such a nice guy.  Though he was certainly maximizing his bachelor status when we first met him, he was still so damn likable and charming I easily forgave his debauched ways.  Kind, protective and considerate, he was just what Sydney needed.  Sydney was brave but not unrealistically resilient.  She has some trauma to overcome and her strength was bolstered by her vulnerability.  It was a very delicate balance that I relished.  Though Damien quickly became a big part of her life, Sydney also had a support system that consisted of her best friend Bee, whose book is actually next in the series, Captivated by Your Love.  Though there are some rough elements, I do not believe this book to be wholly triggering or especially dark.  I felt good reading it from start to finish.  It is a stand alone and does so just fine, though it is part of a series.  No cliffhanger and a very decided and solid HEA, just the way I like it!  If the trope is not too off-putting and you can appreciate a warm love story with fun banter and enough action to be interesting but not distracting, then I definitely recommend the Right Kind of Love.

Grade: B 

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